Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman Day 1 Live Updates: ‘Regardless of being Hindu, Muslim, Bangladesh belongs to all,’ says Rahman in maiden address as PM

Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman Day 1 Live Updates: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairman Tarique Rahman on Tuesday took the oath as the 11th Bangladesh Prime Minister and addressed the country in his maiden speech on Wednesday, where he called for law and order and anti-corruption drive as top priorities. The chief among the challenges that Rahman will have to deal with is the division within the party over the July Charter and Constitutional reforms. Another major issue is law & order and the alleged targeting of minority communities. Bangladesh has already been under international scrutiny after the murder of several Hindus in the nation. Rahman also has the uphill task of reviving the economy which has suffered since the ouster of former PM Sheikh Hasina due to the global fluctuations. The garments-fed export-driven economy is down to 4%. As per the Asian Development Bank, it is projected to rise to 5.2% in 2026. Rahman will have to bring about major structural reforms to achieve the figures. Bangladesh's new BNP-led government on Wednesday warned that "mob culture" will not be tolerated, amid a rise in mob violence, extrajudicial killings and attacks on minority communities. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the senior-most minister in the new Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government, said that the law and order issue was one of three priorities and the administration would take steps to end "mob violence". "Absolutely," he told reporters when asked if the new administration would take proper steps to contain the "mob violence". Alamgir, who is also the party's secretary general and entrusted with the charge of the local government ministry, said, "This (mob violence) will be controlled." "We must strive to improve the law and order situation, regardless of how much it has deteriorated," he added. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday chaired the first meeting of his newly formed cabinet, which set a 180-day priority plan with a focus on controlling commodity prices, maintaining law and order and stabilising supply chains. During his maiden speech as prime minister of Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman addressed the country and said that regardless of being Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, or Christian, and irrespective of party affiliation, religion, or caste, whether living in the hills or the plains, Bangladesh belongs to all. "I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the countrymen on this journey of restoring democracy and human dignity," Rahman added. In his maiden address to Bangladesh as prime minister, Tarique Rahman on Wednesday said to improve the law and order situation in the country and strictly controlling corruption in order to maintain peace and security in people's minds. "The new government has started its journey amid a fragile economy battered by corruption and misrule during the period of fascism, a weak governance structure, and a deteriorating law and order situation," Rahman said. Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Tarique Rahman has delivered his maiden speech as prime minister of the country after winning the election held last week. Briefing reporters after the first Cabinet meeting led by Tarique Rahman, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said it is customary for a newly formed government to hold a session on its first day in office. The government has set a 180-day priority plan, with initial focus on controlling commodity prices, maintaining law and order, stabilising supply chains, and ensuring uninterrupted gas and electricity supply, Ahmed was quoted as saying by The Daily Star newspaper. He added that while governments often set priorities for the first 100 days, the new Bangladesh cabinet has outlined a 180-day plan, with details to be shared later. "As part of our initial priorities, we will work to further improve the situation regarding commodity prices, keep the supply chain intact, and ensure that there is no disruption in the power and energy sectors, particularly gas and electricity," he said. — PTI Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday chaired the first meeting of his newly formed cabinet "to set the course for the new administration," media reports said. Rahman, chief of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was sworn in as the prime minister on Tuesday. "The newly formed cabinet led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has begun its inaugural meeting to set the course for the new administration," BDNews24 news portal said. — PTI BJD MP Sasmit Patra says, "I think Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to India on the invitation by the Prime Minister would be good. It will go a long way in fostering better ties between India and Bangladesh. Bangladesh over the last year and a half has been going through a turmoil, and given the circumstances under which Bangladesh has returned back to democracy, I think it's a great opportunity for India to foster greater, stronger ties. We have a lot of common areas of discussion." Watch the video here: > #watch | Delhi: BJD MP Sasmit Patra says, "I think Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to India on the invitation by the Prime Minister would be good. It will go a long way in fostering better ties between India and Bangladesh. Bangladesh over the last year and a half has been… pic.twitter.com/TueMpVlRr7— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2026 #watch | Delhi: BJD MP Sasmit Patra says, "I think Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to India on the invitation by the Prime Minister would be good. It will go a long way in fostering better ties between India and Bangladesh. Bangladesh over the last year and a half has been… pic.twitter.com/TueMpVlRr7 Bangladesh's new Youth and Sports Minister Aminul Haque has said he wants cases against cricketers Shakib al-Hasan and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza to be resolved quickly so that they can return to the sport, Bangladeshi news website Prothom Alo has reported. Both the cricketers were elected MPs on Awami League tickets. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today congratulated Khalilur Rahman on being sworn-in as the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh. > Congratulations to Dr. Khalilur Rahman on being sworn-in as the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh. Look forward to working together to advance our cooperation for mutual progress and prosperity.🇮🇳 🇧🇩— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 18, 2026 Congratulations to Dr. Khalilur Rahman on being sworn-in as the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh. Look forward to working together to advance our cooperation for mutual progress and prosperity.🇮🇳 🇧🇩 Tarique Rahman will deliver his maiden televised address to the nation tonight around 6:30 PM (IST). As many as 28 Bangladeshi minors who had spent the past year in Indian shelter homes were repatriated through the Benapole International Checkpost. India handed over 11 boys and 17 girls to Benapole Immigration Police, reported Bangladeshi news website Daily Star. Authorities said the children had been trafficked into India through various border routes and later detained. After coordination between the two countries’ foreign ministries, they were returned with special travel permits. Tarique Rahman has decided to keep the Cabinet Division, the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces Division in the Bangladesh government, as per Bangladeshi news website Daily Star. Other ministers have also been allocated various ministries. New Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman visited the National Memorial at Savar, Dhaka, with his Cabinet ministers and paid homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War. Last night, Rahman visited the graves of his father and President Ziaur Rahman and his mother Prime Minister Khaleda Zia at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka. Tarique Rahman's primary challenge lies in proving that he can govern as a unifying national leader rather than a dynastic figurehead. His social, administrative, and economic reforms need to come at a precise and quick pace to satisfy a restive youth electorate that demands radical transparency. He needs to put an end to the alleged "fascist" and "corrupt" practices of the previous years. With the national economy battered by years of unrest, he must now capture the momentum of slowly rising investor confidence and boost the garment sector, which fuels the nation. Diplomatically, the "India factor" looms large; he must rebuild a relationship with New Delhi that has grown outwardly hostile since the fall of Sheikh Hasina, who remains in exile in India. India has already extended warm gestures, with PM Narendra Modi being the first global leader to wish him and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inviting him to New Delhi to build Indo-Bangla ties. He must also counter the growing influence of China and meet the high expectations of the "Gen Z" revolutionaries who paved his way back to Dhaka after 17 years. Tarique Rahman was sworn in as the 11th Bangladesh Prime Minister yesterday. Today, it will be his first full day in office. Muhammad Yunus, adviser to the interim caretaker government, stepped down from his post on Monday. Wednesday will mark Rahman's first full day in office. Rahman won the elections with a thumping victory. Rahman's mother Khaleda Zia was a two-time PM. She passed away on December 30, 2025. Rahman's Father Ziaur Rahman was the 6th President of Bangladesh. Tarique Rahman now faces several challenges both within his party, BNP, and outside. He will have to deal with internal frictions over the July Charter, and fix a deteriorating law & order situation in the country. Rahman also must take strong measures to revive the economy.